How has your own thinking on the theme of perseverance changed over the course of reading this memoir?

Before I started reading the memoir perseverance to me was just "dedication" but throughout the book I realized it meant much more than that. It was highly accentuated in Rosie Perez's life. Being committed, Her ability to remain strong despite difficulty was one of the qualities I admired the most about Rosie Perez. I believe perseverance is a great theme for this memoir, and really flows throughout it. 

How did perseverance help Perez weather her experience in the orphanage?
It make her become a stronger person at youngest age, even though she didn't have her family to support her when she need them. Thinking that her mom would love her one day gave her some type of hope to be happy. There is perseverance that she had. She had a lot of perseverance growing up in the orphanage, she thought one day she would leave and live happy with tia again like she used when she was a little girl. And it actually happen like she said in the book " how I survive Sister Renata and My Crazy Mother, and Still came out Smiling (with Great Hair)".

Importance of Family

Also, as we finish the memoir, I would like you to reflect on what Rosie concludes about the importance of family. In addition, how has reading about her experience affected the way you think about your own family?

Free New York Times

All CUNY students are eligible for a free subscription to The New York Times digital edition. Just follow the directions:

https://gclibrary.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2014/04/09/free-nytimes/

Finishing Up Handbook

 I’d like you to spend some time reflecting this week on the Common Read theme of perseverance in Handbook for an Unpredictable Life. Some questions to consider as we finish the book:

• How did perseverance help Perez weather her experience in the orphanage?
• How do you define “success”? Referencing Handbook, what relation does perseverance have to success?
• In the Catholic Church, perseverance is the belief that God’s grace lasts to the end of a person’s life if she maintains her good works and faith. What is your sense of Perez’s faith? What good works has she done?
• How has your own thinking on the theme of perseverance changed over the course of reading this memoir?

amazing book, five starts!! *****

I was not a big fan of Rosie Perez, but this book made me change my mind. This book touched my heart caught my attention immediately, Rosie is so talented i really admire her. I love how Rosie overcome all the bad things that happened in her life. She never give up and I'm so happy how far you she have come. I have to accept that I cry reading this book because Rosie lived a horrific childhood; it made me feel grateful about the live that i have, and made me appreciate my childhood.  Her story is an inspiration for people  specially people who have faced difficult times in their childhood. this story can help them  understand that no matter how bad their past was; there is always an opportunity to change your life. i hope that she writes more books because from now i am a big fan.

Rosie violence and depression

So many people that receive violence from their parents growing up with the mentality that the abuse and violence is something normal, but  I don't believe that is  Rosie's case. She had a good hearth and i do believe that she did not hit the girl with purpose, thankfully in that moment she realize that she did not want  to made the same mistakes of her mother or worst be like her. Moreover, that is why she fell into an instant depression because she regret it.